Apple sued by Intertrust for patent infringement

GADGET DESIGNER Apple has been sued by a company called Intertrust over patent infringement.

Patent lawsuits have started flying thick and fast in the mobile industry. Hardly a day goes by without one firm accusing another of treading on its patents.

Silicon Valley-based software firm Intertrust alleged that Apple is infringing 15 of its patents in the iPhone and iPad, as well as in its Mac computers, laptops, Apple TV, and services including iTunes, iCloud, and the Apple App Store. So that covers just about everything Apple does, then. Intertrust filed its lawsuit in California.

Intertrust is a digital rights management, privacy and software security technology licensing company. It said it has had a long and glorious history of licensing its patents to companies including Microsoft, Adobe, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, LG, Vodafone, Sony, and Philips. But not Apple, according to its complaint.

"Apple makes many great products that use Intertrust's inventions," said Intertrust CEO Talal Shamoon in a statement.

"Our patents are foundational to modern internet security and trusted computing, and result from years of internal research and development. We are proud of our record of peaceful and constructive licensing with industry leaders. We find it regrettable that we are forced to seek court assistance to resolve this matter."